Chapter 27: Settling Old Scores and New Grudges Together!

Unexpectedly, he delivered himself right to the doorstep!

Ling Qiu narrowed his eyes.

At that moment, the robed Taoist entered the elevator, silently turned to press the button for the first basement floor, then covered the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Mirror with both hands, eyes closed, resting.

"Wu Suowei, you go ahead, I just remembered I forgot something," Ling Qiu suddenly said.

Wu Suowei was startled. "Brother, are you kidding me? That... cough, cough, what could you possibly have left behind in that place?"

"Go on," Ling Qiu gave Wu Suowei a meaningful glance. Although Wu Suowei was puzzled, he caught the hint and stepped out of the elevator.

The doors closed.

Ling Qiu followed in silence, hands in his pockets, steadily behind the Taoist as they reached the basement.

The robed Taoist noticed Ling Qiu tailing him, frowned slightly, but at first didn’t pay it much mind, continuing straight ahead.

Yet, as the distance to the morgue decreased, the Taoist became increasingly uneasy.

He sensed... the person behind him was indeed following him!

A soft click.

The Taoist stopped.

Ling Qiu also stopped, perfectly calm.

"Young man? Is there something you need from me?" The Taoist turned, scrutinizing Ling Qiu with eyes reminiscent of a sly old fox, both sinister and cunning.

Ling Qiu replied coolly, "You walk your way, I walk mine. Is there a problem?"

"No problem," the Taoist said, intent on his business and unwilling to stir up trouble. He turned and deliberately took another route.

Twisting and turning, he delayed his approach to the morgue.

Ling Qiu saw through his intentions and simply stopped following.

When the Taoist realized Ling Qiu was no longer behind him, he finally relaxed, heading to the morgue, opening the door, and finding the cold storage where Lan Xiaoman's body had been kept.

He hung the Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Mirror above his head, formed a seal with his fingers, and began chanting quietly.

"One soul-fixing seal isn't enough, and now you want to use the Eight Trigrams Mirror to erase the consciousness from the soul entirely?"

A cold voice echoed from the morgue entrance.

"Hmm?!!"

The Taoist's heart froze, he spun around in alarm!

"It really is you!"

His expression twisted with fury. "Who are you?! Why did you follow me?! What do you want?!"

Ling Qiu stretched lazily, entered, and closed the morgue door behind him. He leaned against the wall, lit a cigarette, and waved dismissively. "Don't mind me. Go ahead—I want to see the extent of your skills."

"So, a fellow practitioner?"

The Taoist's eyes grew colder, halting his ritual. "Are you a disciple of the Northern Sect of Ma Wang Mountain?"

Ling Qiu: ???

Ma Wang Mountain?

It seemed there were many hidden sects and ritual masters in this mundane world.

"Enough nonsense. I told you to continue, so continue," Ling Qiu said. "By the way, I'd like my sister to watch your performance. You won't charge extra, will you?"

As he spoke, the Yanluo Ring trembled in Ling Qiu's hand, and Lan Xiaoman's soul took form at his side.

"Hmm?!!"

This time, the Taoist was utterly stunned!

He stumbled back a few steps, staring in disbelief at Lan Xiaoman's corpse and then at her soul beside Ling Qiu, heart pounding.

"You... how did your soul escape my soul-fixing seal?!"

Almost instinctively, the Taoist raised the Eight Trigrams Mirror, pulled out two yellow talismans, chanted a spell, and charged forward!

Ling Qiu gently patted Lan Xiaoman’s head. "Watch carefully what happens to those who bully my sister."

With that, Ling Qiu flashed forward!

Thud.

A soft sound as Ling Qiu’s palm slammed hard against the Taoist’s chest!

"Ugh!"

He expected to cough up blood—but to his terror, it felt as if he was about to vomit his very soul!

Before he could react, Ling Qiu’s chilling voice sounded behind him: "Your soul-fixing seal is too basic. Today, I’ll teach you for free."

He brought his fingers together, condensing his energy into needles.

"The first needle seals your celestial soul!"

A needle of energy pierced the Taoist’s crown.

"The second needle seals your earthly soul!"

A needle struck his lower back, targeting his dantian.

"The third needle seals your human soul!"

Ling Qiu flashed in front, the needle stabbed into his philtrum.

"The remaining seven needles, seal your seven spirits!"

One after another, Ling Qiu completed the Soul-Sealing Needle Seal.

Ling Qiu clapped his hands, stepped back, resting his chin in one hand and crossing his arms, regarding the Taoist with a leisurely air.

"As a living man, how does it feel to be soul-sealed?"

"Mmm! Mmm! Mmm!—"

The Taoist couldn't speak; cold sweat drenched him, his face ashen, eyes wide and bulging, veins throbbing at his forehead.

He was clearly in agony.

"Feeling painful? Not nearly painful enough," Ling Qiu said, picking up the Eight Trigrams Mirror. "Judging by your posture, you intended to use this mirror to erase my sister’s soul consciousness? If you ask me, using the Eight Trigrams Mirror this way is a waste... because it’s not painful enough."

As he spoke, Ling Qiu gently rotated the Yanluo Ring, releasing wisps of wandering souls which swiftly entered the Eight Trigrams Mirror.

Haunting wails echoed in the air!

Ling Qiu hung the mirror above the Taoist’s head.

Seeing this, the Taoist realized something, desperately trying to scream and struggle, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t move, as if nailed in place by invisible forces.

Next, the vengeful souls entered through the Taoist’s nostrils...

As they did, his face grew even paler, more ghastly!

He howled in agony—silent howls!

He felt as if countless evil spirits within him were tearing and devouring his soul.

This torment was a thousand times more terrifying than death!

Ling Qiu tossed the Eight Trigrams Mirror aside as if it were garbage.

"I’ve always believed death is a release for the wicked. So my usual methods are... to make them wish for death."

Ling Qiu drew a talisman in midair and sent it into the Taoist’s body.

"From now on, these wandering souls and evil ghosts will forever reside within you, slowly, slowly devouring your soul. The process will be... very slow. You can savor it at your leisure."

With that, Ling Qiu turned, gently patting Lan Xiaoman’s head. "Are you satisfied?"

Lan Xiaoman nodded slightly, then hesitated and shook her head, seeming both fearful and sympathetic.

Ling Qiu shook his head. This little girl, even after all she’d suffered, still had such a kind heart.

"Taoist, consider yourself lucky. My sister is too compassionate, so... for her sake, I’ll let you suffer a little less."

At these words, a flash of wild joy appeared in the Taoist’s eyes!

In agony so intense, even a slight reduction was like paradise.

"At least, I’ll grant you the right to scream."

Ling Qiu snapped his fingers, sending a stream of energy into the Taoist’s body.

Then, taking Lan Xiaoman, he closed the door and left.

Immediately—

"Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!—"

A heart-rending scream of ultimate anguish erupted from the morgue!

The sound...

So dreadful, it made the scalp tingle in horror!